Tray For The Transportation Of Products

ABSTRACT

The tray comprises a bottom ( 1 ), a pair of sides ( 2 ) and a pair of headers ( 3 ), the sides ( 2 ) and the headers ( 3 ) comprising upper flaps ( 4, 5 ) engageable to each other, and it is characterized in that the flaps ( 5 ) of the headers comprise a pair of protrusions ( 6 ) which are inserted in complementary grooves ( 7 ) provided at the flaps ( 4 ) of the sides. 
     The flaps ( 5 ) of the headers comprise a longitudinal folding line ( 9 ) and the flaps ( 5 ) of the headers also comprise a transversal folding line ( 15 ). 
     It is obtained a tray provided with a lid, which is formed by said upper flaps of the headers and the sides, presenting a great stiffness, in the engagement between the flaps forming the lid and also in its resistance to compression when some trays are placed stacked.

The present invention relates to a tray for the transportation ofproducts, comprising a lid formed by flaps extending from the headersand from the sides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known trays for the transportation of products made fromcardboard comprising a lid formed from flaps engaged to each otherextending from the upper part of the headers and the sides of said tray.

An example of this tray is disclosed in the Spanish Patent ApplicationES-200402987 in the name of the same applicant than the presentapplication.

In this tray, the engagement between said flaps is done by longitudinalgrooves provided at the header, inside which the flaps of the sides arehoused. To reinforce this contact zone between the flaps of the headersand the sides, at each of the corners tongues are provided, so that fourlayers of material are obtained at the corners of the tray, to providestiffness enough to the tray when they are stacked one on the other.Furthermore, this tray is not foldable.

The objective of the present invention is to obtain a tray provided witha lid having a simpler structure than that described previously, withoutsaid additional tongues being necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the tray of the invention said drawbacks can be solved, presentingother advantages that will be described.

The tray for transporting products of the present invention comprises abottom, a pair of sides and a pair of headers, the sides and the headerscomprising upper flaps engageable to each other, and it is characterizedin that the flaps of the headers comprise a pair of protrusions whichare inserted in complementary grooves provided at the flaps of thesides.

Thanks to this feature it is obtained a tray provided with a lid, whichis formed by said upper flaps of the headers and the sides, presenting agreat stiffness, in the engagement between the flaps forming the lid andalso in its resistance to compression when some trays are placedstacked.

Advantageously, the flaps of the headers comprise a longitudinal foldingline and the flaps of the headers also comprise a transversal foldingline.

According to a preferred embodiment, said grooves provided at the flapsof the sides have a C-shape, defining a tongue.

Preferably, the tray of the present invention comprises protrusions ofrounded profile at the upper part of its sides, complementary withrecesses of rounded profile provided at the lower part of said sides.

To permit the folding of the tray of the present invention and tofacilitate its transportation when it is empty, the bottom comprises alongitudinal folding line and two pairs of folding lines extending fromsaid longitudinal folding line to the corners of said bottom, and inthat each header also comprises a vertical folding line aligned withsaid transversal folding line provided at the flaps of the headers.

Preferably, each side comprises a pair of lateral flaps which are fixedto the external part of the header and the bottom comprises a pair oflateral flaps, each being fixed to the external part of the header.Furthermore, each lateral flap of the bottom also comprises a verticalfolding line, which matches up with the vertical folding line of theheader, said folding line of the header presenting a groove at thejoining zone between the header and the upper part of the lateral flapof the bottom.

Advantageously, the headers comprise additional lateral flaps which arefixed on the sides forming reinforcing columns at the corners of thetray.

Preferably, the flaps of the headers comprise cuttings at their ends, atthe contact zone with the header.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what have been described some drawings areattached in which, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitativeexample, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a half of the tray of the presentinvention, the lid being opened;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an end of the tray of the presentinvention during the closing of the lid;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end of the tray of the presentinvention with the lid closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the header of the tray of the presentinvention, seen from outside; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tray of the present invention duringits folding.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The tray of the present invention comprises a bottom 1, a pair of sides2 and a pair of headers 3. Each lateral 2 comprises a first upper flap 4and each header comprises a second upper flap 5. These upper flaps 4, 5are engageable to each other, forming a lid.

The engagement between said upper flaps 4, 5 is done by protrusions 6provided at the second flaps 5 which are inserted inside complementarygrooves 7 provided in said first flaps 4. Said grooves 7 have a C-shapeand define a tongue 8.

The second flaps 5 comprise a longitudinal folding line 9 to facilitatethe insertion of the protrusions 6 inside said grooves 7, as can be seenin FIG. 2. To facilitate also this insertion, these second flaps 5comprise cutting 10 at their ends, at the contact zone with the header3.

Each header 3 also comprises lateral flaps 11 fixed to the sides 2,defining reinforcing columns at the corners of the tray.

The joining of the headers 3 and the rest of the tray is done by lateralflaps 18, 19 provided at the sides 2 and the bottom 1, which are fixedon the external part of the headers 3.

To obtain a foldable tray that can be transported in a substantiallyflat position when it is empty, the bottom 1 comprises a longitudinalfolding line 12 and two pairs of folding lines 13 extending from saidlongitudinal folding line 12 to the corners of the tray. Furthermore,the headers comprise a vertical folding line 14 aligned with thelongitudinal folding line 12 of the bottom 1 and the second flaps alsocomprise a transversal folding line 15, also aligned with the verticalfolding line 14 of the header 3. Furthermore, the lateral flap 19 of thebottom 1 also comprises a transversal folding line 20, which matches upwith the vertical folding line 14 of the header 3.

Said vertical folding line 14 of the header comprises a groove 16 at thejoining zone between the header 3 and the upper part of said lateralflap 19 of the bottom 1.

To facilitate the stacking of some trays one on the others, the sides 2comprise protrusions 21, 22 at its upper part, complementary withrecesses 23 provided at the lower part of said sides 2. Preferably, atleast one of these protrusions 22 has a rounded profile, facilitatingthe folding of said first flaps 4.

Even though reference is made to a specific embodiment of the invention,it is apparent for a person skilled in the art that the described trayis susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that allthe details can be substituted by other technically equivalent ones,without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attachedclaims.

1. Tray for transporting products, comprising a bottom (1), a pair ofsides (2) and a pair of headers (3), the sides (2) and the headers (3)comprising upper flaps (4, 5) engageable to each other, characterized inthat the flaps (5) of the headers comprise a pair of protrusions (6)which are inserted in complementary grooves (7) provided at the flaps(4) of the sides.
 2. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe flaps (5) of the headers comprise a longitudinal folding line (9).3. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (5) of theheaders also comprise a transversal folding line (15).
 4. Tray accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said grooves (7) provided at the flaps(4) of the sides have a C-shape, defining a tongue (8).
 5. Trayaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises protrusions(22) of rounded profile at the upper part of its sides (2),complementary with recesses (23) of rounded profile provided at thelower part of said sides (2).
 6. Tray according to claim 3,characterized in that the bottom (1) comprises a longitudinal foldingline (12) and two pairs of folding lines (13) extending from saidlongitudinal folding line (12) to the corners of said bottom (1), and inthat each header (3) also comprises a vertical folding line (14) alignedwith said transversal folding line (15) provided at the flaps (5) of theheaders.
 7. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that each side(2) comprises a pair of lateral flaps (18) which are fixed to theexternal part of the header (3) and the bottom (1) comprises a pair oflateral flaps (19), each being fixed to the external part of the header(3).
 8. Tray according to claim 7, characterized in that each lateralflap (19) of the bottom also comprises a vertical folding line (20),which matches up with the vertical folding line (14) of the header (3),said folding line of the header presenting a groove (16) at the joiningzone between the header (3) and the upper part of the lateral flap (19)of the bottom (1).
 9. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe headers (3) comprises additional lateral flaps (11) which are fixedon the sides (2) forming reinforcing columns at the corners of the tray.10. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (5) ofthe headers (3) comprise cuttings (10) at their ends, at the contactzone with the header (3).